Cricket: Stags on track to make NZ T20 debut

Central Districts Stags seamer Ben Wheeler (left) and batsman Tom Bruce are on track to make their T20 debut for the Black Caps in Napier on January 3. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

It was always a case of when rather if Central Districts Stags batsman Tom Bruce would represent his country.

Yesterday the 25-year-old from Taranaki was named in the 14-member Black Caps Twenty20 squad to play Bangladesh in a three-match ANZ series starting at McLean Park Napier, on January 3.

Greater Black Caps squad member Ben Wheeler also made the cut, after six ODIs for his country.

National selector Gavin Larsen said Bruce thoroughly deserved his call up.

"Tom has been one of the leading players in the Super Smash the past two years and is one of the cleanest strikers of a cricket ball in the country," said former New Zealand international Larsen.

"He's averaged 76 at a strike rate of 174 this season so Tom's proven himself to be a very dangerous player. Power is a critical element to Twenty20 cricket so to have him alongside the likes of Martin, Corey and the two Colins is an exciting prospect."

Larsen indicated CD batsman Ross Taylor's omission was a performance-based decision.

"Ross' recovery from eye surgery is going well and he'll be available to play in the Super Smash competition within the next few days. Ross is a hugely important player for us and we're looking forward to having him back in action for us in the tests," he said.

Wheeler, 25, of Marlborough, also is in line to make his T20 international debut.

"It's been great to see Ben back playing cricket and getting near his best. He's put in a lot of hard work to get to this point again, so we're looking forward to having him back in the mix," said Larsen.

"Ben's ability to swing the ball at a decent clip can trouble any batsmen, as he's shown in domestic cricket this season."

He said the CD pair of allrounder George Worker and seamer Seth Rance were "all seriously considered" with Mark Chapman and Neil Wagner.

Corey Anderson has been named as a batsman only while left-arm seamer Trent Boult will miss the first T20 as part of a planned break and Tim Southee all three matches to prepare for the test series.

Stags seamer Adam Milne and Doug Bracewell as well as Mitchell McClenaghan were not considered because of injury.

The number of Stags featuring in the selectors' equation in the different formats of the country's No 1 summer code is a testimony to the work of CD coach Heinrich Malan who has provided structure and a pathway for young talent to shine through a fragmented major association region in the country.

With the help of Ben Smith, of England, this season as assistant coach, the William Young-captained Stags pushed their way to the top of the McDonald's Super Smash Twenty20 campaign after a sound victory over the Wellington Firebirds yesterday following two consecutive losses.

From McLean Park, the T20 series against Bangladesh will shift to the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui for matches on January 6 and 8.

T20 squad for ANZ Twenty20 Series: Kane Williamson (c), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ben Wheeler.